However, when I say what I do for a living, I find many people are clueless as to what an Osteopath does. Generally, they think that you fix stiff backs in creaky old people!
When I attempt to broaden that view, I see a scepticism come over their faces and incomprehension. It’s almost as if you are invisible as a profession!
You may have several competitors, including other health professionals, in your area but how can you stand out? How can you build the trust needed for more people to pick up the phone and book an appointment?
Do you have printed pamphlets which explain your work in a straight-forward fashion? Are you pounding the social media sites with sound bites about what you do? Do you attend local high school careers evenings to encourage youngsters to look at Osteopathy as a profession?
Back to the website, is it clear that you treat pain and not just a list of conditions? Just as the Physiotherapists’ work is well understood by the public, I’d like to see a time when people comprehend easily what an Osteopath does.
Just make sure that when a new patient hops off your plinth, they are armed with enough simple information that they can pass the word on and reveal your tremendous work to a wider audience!
Ultimately, the only thing a person in pain is seeking is freedom from their discomfort. What can you do today to take off your invisibility cloak and unveil your awesome abilities?
